Zelenskyy meets UK and NATO leaders to discuss ‘victory plan’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the leaders of the UK and NATO in London on Thursday to discuss his “victory plan” for the war against Russia.

Aside from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the meeting was also attended by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Defence Secretary John Healey and armed forces chief Admiral Tony Radakin. 

The meeting was a chance to “go through the plan, to talk in more detail,” according to Starmer.

After talks with the British officials, Zelenskyy travelled to France for a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.  

Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Friday and will also travel to Italy to discuss the plan. 

Details of Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” have been kept quiet, but certain contours have emerged — including a call for fast action on decisions Western allies have been mulling since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. 

The Ukrainian leader was originally set to present the plan this weekend at a meeting of Western leaders and defence ministers in Germany, but the was postponed after US President Joe Biden announced he is staying in the US to respond to the impending Hurricane Milton. 

Zelenskyy said he hoped the meeting could be rescheduled soon.

Ukraine relies heavily on Western support, including tens of billions of dollars’ worth of military and financial aid, to keep up the fight against Russia after nearly 1,000 days of fighting. 

Fearing that crucial help could be in jeopardy due to political changes in donor countries, Ukraine has been building up its domestic arms industry. It also wants to raise more money from taxpayers to pay for the war effort.  

The Ukrainian parliament passed a bill on second reading Thursday that raises the country’s so-called military tax from 1.5% to 5%. Some amendments are expected before it becomes law.